Church Partners Respond to Conflict in Georgia

Thursday, August 14, A.D. 2008

The outbreak of hostilities between Russian and Georgian forces in the disputed regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has uprooted and displaced tens of thousands of people, many of whom are in urgent need of basic relief assistance. The situation remains tense and fighting continues in places, despite a reported ceasefire.

Church World Service (CWS) has two local partners in Georgia, but has been able to make contact thus far with only one, based in the Georgian capital of Tblisi. A number of members in the Action by Churches Together (ACT) network, including the U.S.-based International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) and the United Methodist Commission on Relief (UMCOR), have active programs in Georgia. Regional ACT members, Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) and the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), have already begun distributing emergency relief assistance. ACT is now issuing an initial emergency grant from its Rapid Response Fund and is preparing a follow-up appeal to its member churches. Week of Compassion, in turn, is preparing a response to the ACT appeal, as well as support for CWS efforts with its local Georgian partners.

Recently, the WOC Committee approved a sustainable development grant to support a major CWS initiative in Georgia to provide vocational education and employment opportunities for vulnerable youth through Tblisi Youth House Foundation (TYHF). TYHF has assisted more than 15,000 displaced and local vulnerable children over the last 10 years. This specific project will directly assist 780 young people. Of course, WOC will work closely with CWS to monitor the progress of the project, especially in light of the fighting. We will continue to post information on the humanitarian situation in Georgia and the response of our church partners.

Volunteer Work Groups Needed

The response to recent announcements from the Office of Disciples Volunteering and Week of Compassion about the need for flood recovery work groups in Iowa has been quite good. Great news. Work groups are still needed for flood recovery in Indiana; for tornado recovery in Greensburg, KS; for hurricane recovery in the Gulf South, especially with the beginning of Phase II of the Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative; and for the “La Casita” project with Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries in Los Fresnos, TX. And there are a host of other Disciples-related volunteer opportunities from Appalachia to Yakama. Contact ODV for details and WOC for the availability of work trip grants.

WOC Map/Poster

Click here for the complete listing of this week’s responses. For a complimentary copy of the map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.